Context

This line was spoken by Walter Sobchak, played by John Goodman, in The Big Lebowski, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen (1998).

The Big Lebowski single-handedly brought the word "dude" back into the English vernacular, and it also made rugs, White Russians, and Jeff Bridges popular again. Unfortunately, the rug has a hard time from the beginning of the movie when some hitmen attack The Dude. Even though he's not the "Lebowski" they're looking for, the goons urinate on his rug, which was the piece de resistance of his living room.

And Walter, who is somehow friends with The Dude, commiserates with the ruination of the rug by saying this famous quote about the rug's importance. So, seriously, don't mess with someone's living room rug, even if you're a big tough lieutenant of a mob boss.

Especially if it's a nice Persian rug owned by a chill dude whose favorite cocktail is a White Russian.

Where you've heard it

This is the perfect, clever compliment when you're touring your friend's new apartment, house, or hovel.

Additional Notable References:

• If you really want your living room to be well tied together, you can buy a licensed replica The Dude's rug.
• The movie is such a huge cult classic that, for the past 15 years, fans have come to Louisville, Kentucky to celebrate all things Dude.
• The Big Lebowski had not one, but two characters on Empire magazine's list of the 100 best film characters. Hint: they both like rugs and bowling.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

If there is in fact a rug in the room you're in (and you're not trying to force the reference), this is a fantastic quote to use.